Midlands Strengths

The home of
MedTech Innovation

The Midlands is an internationally recognised cluster of expertise in High Field MRI and imaging techniques. 



Through UKRI’s largest ever investment, the Midlands will be home to the UK’s first 11.7T MRI facility, to operate as a national facility. 

The advanced Ultra High Field imaging will enhance patient care and research. Utilising our world-leading facilities and Life Science expertise, the Midlands acts as a Life Sciences manufacturing hub for the UK.

The Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CRSI) was established in 2020 to support the development and delivery of novel therapeutics and medical devices in the UK, through advanced regulatory standards and tools.

With more MedTech companies than any other region in the UK, contributing £1.6bn to the UK economy, we aim to support the delivery of the 2.4% uplift in national R&D spend. 

MedTech Innovation

Leading inclusive research

The Midlands has an international reputation for inclusive clinical research excellence and world-leading academic ethnic and mental health expertise.

Our work is helping the sector better understand health inequalities through inclusive research on health inequalities and (Link to policy commission stuff) is particularly important in supporting the Government’s levelling-up agenda and post COVID-19 economic recovery plans.

Beacons of excellence include the Centre for Ethnic Health, the Keele Impact Accelerator Unit, the 3 NIHR Midlands Biomedical Research Centres, 2 NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and the Midlands Engine Mental Health and Productivity Pilot.

We continue to investigate health diversity and inequality in healthcare. Key disease themes include diabetes, cardiovascular, inflammation, liver, respiratory, BME health and mental health.

Transforming rehabilitation care

Transforming rehabilitation care

The Midlands has the environment, infrastructure and expertise for the development and production of defence and rehabilitation-focused innovations.

We have internationally renowned academic specialisms, within facilities such as the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, and excellent NHS engagement through the NIHR Trauma Management Med Tech Co-operative.

The £300m Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre will soon house the UK’s £70m National Rehabilitation Centre for civilian care.  It aims to be treating patients early in 2025.



Leicester and Leicestershire High Priority Opportunity (HPO) provides innovative solutions at all stages of patient recovery. This Department of International Trade HPO aims to meet the growing national and international demand for pre-rehabilitation and rehabilitation solutions for real-world applications.

A health data and AI powerhouse

We can deliver innovation in healthcare faster thanks to our academic and clinical excellence and the region’s ethnically diverse population.

This work is supported by our infrastructure, which supports the largest cluster of digital start-ups outside of London. This includes:

4 NHS England Global Digital Exemplars

2 Alan Turing Institute sites (with all MIH partners members of the open university network)

the UK’s largest IBM Power9 AI cluster

1 of the world’s largest Arm-based supercomputer deployments

the UK’s foremost diagnostic and experimental medicine capabilities

3 Digital Innovation Hubs

World-class clinical trials infrastructure

The Midlands delivers world-leading health research within respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and diabetes, supporting health innovation at a regional, national and global scale. We have outstanding clinical trials investigators and infrastructure that deliver a transformational approach to health innovation. 

By combining rapid development and delivery with research excellence, the Midlands has a world-class clinical trials environment including. This work is supported by our:

Extensive NIHR infrastructure
The UK’s largest Clinical Trials Unit
The world’s largest precision medicine cancer CTU
2 Health Innovation Networks
Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre